Viewing the 'Daily Spending' Category

Aldo's run today wasn't so bad.
I picked up paper towels for about $1.20 less than Wal*Mart, a bottle of salsa for dip, about a dollar less and cream cheese about $2 less. Saving about $4. Not bad

There was a time that buying generic was a big no no for me, not anymore. It makes no sense to pay for a brand items that are just as food as off brands. I forgot to buy Lysol wipes for the counters, I'll just improvise.

For my birthday my coworkers got me a birthday cake and then the SO bought me one, so I'm stuck with two cakes 🎂. I decided to have friends over tonight for cake. Normally I'd go all out get some appetizers but not tonight, it's just cake and wine with a little dip and chips. I made sure I told everyone we are just having cake.

Other news, I've been using my planner a lot lately, and it's been helping with getting things done. Cleaned, shopped and read all before noon today.

Proud of myself, the office was having their Secret Santa 🎅🏾 drawing today and I told the committee that I was not participating. They continued to try and get me to sign up but I held my guns and said no.

The boss came in with her 2% raise, I felt like crying but I remembered before your blessing you'll go through something. I said a quick prayer, and felt at peace. This manager is the worst, she had another employee in tears and going to therapy but the company continue to allow her bully others. I'll take my 2% with my head up and continue to look for something else.

Today was not a NSD, headed over to Walmart for a few items. I found these neat little gadgets for $10 for my nephews, for Christmas, but was on the fence. Long story short I had the money for it, already budgeted but purchasing would have left me with nothing left over in the gift envelope. I was telling my sister what I bought, she mentioned she bought them one last year so I can take the ones I bought back. Feeling better. So long as I come under, I can throw the amount that's left at CC3. The goal is to never spend every single dollar in my envelopes.

Oops I failed to mention that the linen napkins have been working fabulously. Not saying that I didn't use a few napkins but far less than my normal consumption. I notice the SO took out a roll, I'm waiting to see what he does when we're out and I haven't bought any. Usually I'm the purchasing, he buys the soap, but those $5 can be thrown on my debt.

Pay day today, had lunch with a colleague. Our manager has written her up. The woman is crazy and I'm not sure why her retaliatory behavior has yet to be address. Four people has quit because she's just outright nasty, and four have filed grievances. I really didn't want to go but I know she needed it.

Today's spending
$5.65 to CC3 new balance $1019.26. I use a zero base balance budget and had $3.65 to play with so I added it to the CC, plus I had two no spend days, so I added $2

Next lunch was $12.43 this included lunch, I have to remember to order water to keep cost down.

Next I ordered my nephews magazines for Christmas. I was going to go through Ebates for the cash back but found it's more expensive to do that. So $15 for Kids National Geographic, $33.90 for two one year subscription of Boys Life. The Boys Life was reduced by $7 each, I am so glad I waited on purchasing vs using a CC. Next I'll send my other nephew his $25 in a card on Friday. He's 13 so I'm sure he'll want the cash to do what he wants.

Minimum was paid on JCP $117 , and BoA $67.05 CCs

Car insurance was $166.64, I can just kick myself, I forgot to print and sign the change in coverage, I'll be doing this tomorrow.

Of course tithes was paid $160.73 now it's just rent, water, and electric. I'll be taking care of tomorrow.

Cleaned out the refrigerator and had to throw out a half a chicken, five pork chops, rice and left over Chinese chicken. I thought, how shameful. There's someone out there who could have used this food.

I told the fiancé that I will no longer buy and cook these meals. I generally buy the bulk of the groceries and cook, so that he has something but so much of it goes to waste.

My nephew's girlfriend works for a meal prep company and any left over she shares, at least twice a week. I often get these meals and this too goes to waste, because I've cooked and will pack what I cooked for lunch but no more. I'll be eating my free meals, and if the fiancé refuses, that's his choice. He can spend his money buying groceries.

Last budget period I think I spent only $4 on groceries because I stuck with buy, only what you need, and now I'm sticking with buy nothing since you're getting free meals.

Long story short, Dave Ramsey says while going through this process it's rice and beans, I get free meals that are delicious so it makes no sense to spend the money. Here are a few of the meals.

In financial news here's the first half of the month spending. Not so bad this pay past period.

Oops before I forget, I took the $35 budgeted for my contacts and paid on CC2, new balance $488.04. I'd budgeted $45 this week for my hair for the holiday, I don't think I'm going so I'll be throwing this amount at the CC2 as well. Can't wait for this card to be gone.

Well looks like the computer crashed. When we turn it on the screen remains black. I've unplugged, restarted etc and nothing.

It's not in my budget and I'm not considering it an emergency so I won't be replacing it. I may just wait until Black Friday and search for a laptop, unless I start saving for one. Wal*Mart has laptops for less than $200. The good thing is, the job provides us a laptop that I can bring home, sign in and use a Google spread sheet to track my expenses. I'm going to miss the MS Money software I use for tracking spending, but the spread sheet will do until I get my own.

Normally I'd use the credit card and buy one but I refuse to go into debt when there is an alternative. Not sure what the fiancé is going to do because he uses the computer to print his bills for clients. I'm sick of making a way, while going into debt. He needs to step up to the plate. I've told him I am not marrying him if he can't step up.

Different note, mom paid me back the money she owed me. She likes the idea of paying her bills online but doesn't know how to do so. Lol. So she tells me to pay the bill and gives me the money. No worries about her paying me back, she's great with money. So I added this $80 back to my checking account.

I purchased the last item through the checking account today, contacts. I'd budgeted $30 for contacts but it turns out they were $39. After I crunch the numbers, I'll have $57.98 cents left in my checking account. Not sure what I did because I created a zero balance budget and their shouldn't be anything left. Strange. Either way I'm transferring this to the EF, baby step 1.

Lastly, I got home really late. We have a wedding to attend so I'll be going to the salon tomorrow. I did budget this cost in. I'm in need of a hair cut and color, but there is no way am I going to spend almost $100 tomorrow. So I permed/relaxed my hair, and colored it. That's saving me about $35-$45. Tomorrow I'm estimating $60 for services, that will include the cut.

The wedding, I budgeted $50 as a cash gift but I'm going to check out their registry tonight to see if I can find items for about $25 total.

Today was a pretty decent day. The A/C was out at the office, they kept us there. Good thing no one died from heat exhaustion 🙄🤦🏾‍♀️
I hate being in a position where I feel like my job is more important than my health. But I'm still looking.

On a different note, no dining out so $6 saved. I washed my own hair today and that was another $45 saved. All in all I saved $51 today. Since I saved $51 today, I'll split the money saved and add $25.50 on CC3 and $25.50 to my savings.

Tomorrow I have my little mentee so I'll be looking for a nice restaurant with coupons; hopefully we can get a BOGO. I was thinking about pedicures but I need to find something else and less expensive to do.

Trying to balance my checkbook and I'm off by $12.61. This is driving me crazy. I've checked and double checked, and still can't find the error. I also reviewed the beginning balance and I can't seem to find the error. I took a break, but really wanted to get into reviewing my transactions for the week every Friday.

For two days I have not dined out, I'm so happy. So I'll be adding $6 to the miscellaneous account ($2 for breakfast; $2 for lunch and $2 for dinner) for day one. I'll do the same on CC number 3 for day 2.

We had bought season tickets for college football game last year, with the tickets you get free wings, so Monday I'll dine in, order a Coke and go home. 😀

Looks like today will be my first no spend day in months. I'm here with dad and will be heading home shortly, when I realized I haven't spent a dime. So I'll be adding $2 on the BoA CC.

In healthy living news, today is day 2 and I have not had a soda, adding $1 to the BoA CC. I also walked a little over a mile today so another buck added to the CC. In all today, I'll be adding $4 payment to the BoA CC.

I know when I blog I stay on track, I hate when things throw me off, when that happens I stop blogging and start spending. Have to stay focus.

With that said, I'm trucking right along. The BF took care of my car's oil change and filled me up. I didn't ask how much he paid, but I estimated about $60 for everything. So I added the $60 to my $20/52 Week challenge. New total $2,082.26. I'm so happy.

Dad and I will be running errands and he usually give me a $100 on the days we do this. Even though I tell him he don't have to he always do. He says he'll rather give it to his kids than other people who will sure enough take it.

I splurged and had McDonalds for breakfast $3.60 so I paid $3.60 on the BoA credit card, I figured if I have extra to eat out then I have money to pay down debt.

Lastly, we are getting our security cameras installed. It saddens me that we are in an age where Big Brother always have to be watching. Awful

Received my final check from Target and made the following contributions, every little bit counts:
• 10% to EF = $30.68
• 5% to IRA = $16.50
• 3% to CC3= $9.40

I wanted to add the 3% off CC payment to my Target card but Target only allows you to make two payments within 7 days, so I applied the amount to my Bank of America account. I thought this was ridiculous, talk about keeping you in debt.

I also ended up eating lunch with my boss and colleagues. I wasn't too happy about spending the money since I had packed my lunch. One of the girls was fired today, so the HR director decided to take us out to try and smooth things over but I ended up spending $12 for lunch and $5 for a tip so I transferred $17 to my $20 Challenge. Ugh.

In the end that was it for the day as far as spending goes, I hope.

Now for my three things that I'm thankful for:
• A running/paid for vehicle
• Seeing another day
• Not being homeless

Okay I am jotting this here so that I don't forget.
I purchased one of my books for school, $65.67. This amount was charged on the BoA CC, so that I earn the point. I have since paid the bill, $70 so $4.33 extra was applied to my $20 Challenge debt